FAIRLEA, WV- After some much needed time off, the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans returned to the confines of their home field on Tuesday, April 11 and hosted their biggest rivals, the Woodrow Wilson Flying Eagles.
Fans filled both bleachers and lined the fences to see the Spartans take control early and get a 13-0 shutout victory.
The Eagles were expected to throw their ace pitcher, Aubrey Smallwood, but she ended up in left field as Woodrow pitched Jasmine Daubert instead. With Daubert, East had a big day at the plate.
East scored in all four innings they batted, and also got some help from the Woodrow defense as they were not sharp in the contest. Josi Ervin scored on a wild throw to third base from the catcher, then Lily Carola scored on a passed ball at home plate. After one inning, the Spartans led 2-0.
Gracie Gumm scored East’s third run of the evening on another passed ball, but Daubert avoided disaster when she struck out Taylor Boswell looking with the bases loaded, although the pitch looked to be outside.
The Lady Spartans (10-2) seized all the momentum in the bottom of the third when Carola led it off with a big solo home run, and the wheels fell completely off of the Flying Eagles (7-7) wagon. The Spartans got seven more hits in the inning, including doubles from Olivia Plybon and Hailey Ervin, and a 2-run single from Jenna Groves and an RBI base hit from Alanis McClary to end all Beckley hopes.
Josi Ervin got the start for the Spartans and cruised easily. She only ran into trouble in the first inning when Woodrow had runners on second and third base, but she got a strikeout to end the frame. She ended with five innings pitched, one hit allowed and nine strikeouts.
Carola and Hailey Ervin led the Spartans with two hits apiece. Groves’ two RBI’s led the team.
The Spartans are off today, Wednesday, and return home Thursday to host the Wyoming East Lady Warriors.
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